On Saturday mornings in Manhattan, grocery lines move slowly as shoppers weigh produce and meal plans. For some, the solution is not the supermarket but the delivery box. Prepared meal services, like Factor, report a steady uptick in orders this fall.
Factor’s model skips the step of cooking altogether. Meals arrive refrigerated, ready to heat and eat. The company offers rotating menus with options such as blackened salmon, turkey chili, and vegetarian lasagna. A single serving averages $13 to $15. Delivery is weekly and meals keep in the fridge for up to a week.
At a Midtown apartment on Thursday, John Kim, a finance analyst, unpacked four Factor meals after returning from work. “I don’t have time to cook or shop with my schedule,” he said. “I just want to eat something that isn’t takeout.”
Nutrition remains a factor in the purchasing decision for some subscribers. Factor’s meals are tagged for dietary preferences, including keto, calorie-smart, and plant-based. The company states that registered dietitians design the menus, though ingredient sourcing is not local.
Critics note the environmental impact of packaging and the higher price point compared to home cooking. Still, for commuters and office workers facing packed schedules this autumn, prepared meal kits fill a gap between ordering in and cooking from scratch.